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NCT Number: NCT06851208

Do Emotions and Pain Combined Affect Mechanical Pain Thresholds and Other Pain-related Variables in Individuals with Chronic Pain?

The purpose of this study is to investigate if different emotional states could influence mechanical pain thresholds and other pain - related variables such as pain tolerance, pain intensity and pain - related negative affect in individuals with chronic pain.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Thresholds Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain Intensity Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Participants with chronic pain will be randomized into 4 different groups watching different short video-clips (2.20 min), while at the same time experience short-lasting, experimentally induced pain. The negative emotions group will watch an uncomfortable short video containing violence and blood, the positive emotions group will watch a video containing a stand-up comedy show, the neutral emotions group will watch a video about how to paint a house, and the control group will just wait for 2.20 min, without any instructions about what to think about. Pressure pain thresholds, pain tolerance, pain intensity and pain-related negative affect will be measured with an algometer before and after the video-clip combined with experimental pain interventions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Above 18 years of age
  • Fluent in Swedish
  • Persistent chronic pain with duration > 6 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Known neurological disease

Treatment and study plan

Emotional intervention

Other

Emotional intervention Description: The participant will watch a short video-clip with negative emotional content while simultaneously experience experimentally induced pain.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pressure pain thresholds

    Time frame: Day 1: baseline PPTs are measured, intervention 2.20 min follows and intervention PPTs are measured directly after the intervention. Recruitment for single appointments for each participant will take place for 4 months.

    Description: Pressure pain thresholds will be measured i kPa with a handheld algometer (Somedic AB).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain tolerance (time in seconds the left hand is immersed in cold water 1 degree C).

    Time frame: Day 1: During a single session (30 min), the participant will keep their hand immersed in cold water for as long as possible while watching a video. This time will be measured in seconds.

    Description: The measure pain tolerance equals the time the time the participant keeps their left hand immersed in cold water (1 degree C), before they decide to withdraw their hand. This will be measured in seconds. For each participant, the maximum time to keep the hand immersed in water is 300 seconds. Participants are successively recruited for single appointments for 4 months.

  2. Pain intensity on the NRS

    Time frame: Day 1: Pain intensity will be estimated at single session appointments (30 min) on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) after the intervention. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months.

    Participants will rate their perceived pain intensity on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) after the intervention (film-clip combined with pain induction using the cold pressor apparatus with cold water 1 degree C. This will take place on a single session appointment for each participant. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months.

  3. Pain-related negative affect on the NRS-A

    Time frame: Day 1: Pain intensity will be estimated at single session appointments (30 min) on the NRS-A (Numerical Rating Scale-Anxiety) after the intervention. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months.

    Description: Perceived pain-related negative affect will be estimated on the NRS-A (Numerical Rating Scale- Anxiety) after the intervention (film-clip combined with pain induction with the cold pressor apparatus with cold water 1 degree C).The pain intensity will be estimated at every single session appointment (30 min) after the intervention on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale). The participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Helena Gunnarsson, Dr

CONTACT

[email protected]

+46708432509

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Linnaeus University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 28, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 28, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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